Derby have been consistently up amongst the Championship league challengers for the last 3 years or so from memory and if you’d offered me a draw away to them before the season began, I’d have snatched your hand off.
It’s as simple as that.
Having had a quick glance at the comments on here in the previous thread, you would think we’d been terrible, but that’s not how I perceived it while listening to the commentary.
Yes, commentary. Which often doesn’t tell the story completely.
But it’s all I had to go on and it sounded like we should have scored at least 3 goals, having hit the bar and the post, with a claim that the ball had crossed the line, thrown in too.
It certainly doesn’t sound like a Villa team that struggled when you add in that we were well up in the possession stakes too, at least for the first half.
Admittedly, it sounded like Derby got into it way more in the second half, but we still sounded the better side overall and I believe the Derby fans were booing at half time. That’s a point of note, in my opinion.
So while I’m happy with a point, I’m also beginning to see a common theme, which is while we now look a bit more creative, so we’re not converting those chances. That’ll improve though, when the players get into the rhythm, although it seems Gestede has at least tweaked his hamstring, which might prove a real blow.
Kozak came on to cover and while it’s harsh to judge him when he’s had so few games, it’s all about being be able to perform when you’re asked.
It would seem he showed nothing and given that the stories suggest RDM isn’t keen, I’d expect another striker in and Kozak will be off-loaded. No loss for me, as that’s the way it is. Ultimately, he’s another one who’s earned massively from the Villa, even if he’s only(!) on £10k a week.
So summing up, we’ve now played 3 very decent Championship sides and haven’t looked anywhere near the disaster we were last season.
We seem better at the back and I still see the odd one or two signings coming in this window, which should see us in decent stead until Christmas.
And then it would seem Dr Xia still has some firepower to add in the winter window, when the squads will come into play and RDM knows the players better.
While a draw might seem disappointing today, I really do think things aren’t too bad.
Bad Dost anyone?
http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/aston-villa-transfer-rumour-bad-11784617
Wolfburg striker but I must admit that I hadn’t heard of him before. If true would he be a good buy?
Pat never heard of him but I think I know a man who would Andrew he keeps a close eye on European football, I’m sure he’ll be on later mate.me personally would like us to show interest in Rhodes I think he’ll be making movements in this window with Wolverhampton been mentioned as a possible destination.time will tell
@Giddy
Agree about Rhodes.
Quite exciting though isn’t it? I feel like we’ve almost got everyone we need bar another striker and a RB.
Really looking forward to seeing how Jedinak does. A bit of steel in mid-field will do us a world of good.
UTV
I agree if we can start hitting the net instead of the woodwork we’ll be going places,yes can’t wait until jedinak is in place I think we’ll see an immense improvement in that department hopefully with tish back aswell I do feel we’re improving may it continue Utv
Don’t get too excited over Jedinak he will just make us harder to beat by cementing the defence he won’t help us create anything going forward.
It’s been a good while since I’ve had some excitement so I’m making the most of it.
And attacking midfielder
hmmmm anybody know anything about Bas Dost ??????? 9 million
The 1981 German epic war film written and directed by Wolfgang Petersen?
vintage year
Didn’t he turn us down about 3 seasons ago when Lambert tried to sign him from the Dutch league. Think he was at Heerenveen, I saw him play for Wolfsburg on BT last season, I’d expect him to shine in the Championship, why leave Wolfsburg though?
money lol it says he lost his place in wolfsburg team down to injury
According to the B’ham Mail he had an ankle injury in January which put him out for a while, and also took him out of the shop-window until now. They reckon he’d be keen on a move to the EPL or a ‘big’ Championship club.
Oh, and they say it was AmcL who was interested in signing him when Dost was still playing in Holland – presumably Randy vetoed the spending…
RUMOUR …world class No 9…Didier Drogba……
Knew there would be a catch he’s 38 ffs! May as well sign Pele up he’s only in his 70s typical villa. Shane we didn’t get him 10 years ago
Xia’s popped-up on his Twitter a/c rubbishing that rumour already – as has Drogba himself, so I think we can file that one in the ‘spam’ folder…
Hope so
Mario Balotelli !??!!
May as well get Morrison. I do love balotelli but he has is world class one game then conference league the next no consistency
Two different players, not the same position. could get them both. Oh Di Matteo would have fun with that.
Mario Balotelli !??!!….rather have Drogba….
Definitely do not want Bas Dost, yet another 6′ 5″ cart horse, bad enough playing hoofball with Gestede or Kozak in the side.
Dost has more talent than either, technically speaking. But Xia said we want a pacey striker, not a big one and rejected the option to sign him.